With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today .
Body found at fire in northern LA County near where 19-year-old went missing
College student Bryce Laspisa, 19, went missing late last week. Authorities have found a burned body in the same vicinity of a search for Laspisa, though it is unclear as yet if the two incidents are connected.
(
Courtesy Los Angeles County Sheriff's Deputies
)
An autopsy is pending on a burned body discovered Wednesday morning along Lake Hughes Road near Castaic Lake, not far from where authorities had been searching for missing 19-year-old college student Bryce Laspisa from Laguna Niguel.
Los Angeles County Fire Inspector Anthony Akins says firefighters stumbled on the body while responding to a call of a small brush fire.
"Upon arrival, first engine had a small spot that they identified and quickly extinguished. During the extinguishment, they found a body at the location and immediately requested the response of law enforcement," Akins said.
Investigators say the body was too badly damaged to even determine whether it was a man or a woman.
In the meantime, the search continues for Laspisa. He's been missing since Friday afternoon. The Cypress College student was driving from northern California to visit his parents in Laguna Niguel when he disappeared.
Laspisa's overturned SUV was discovered near Castaic Lake, with his cell phone, laptop and wallet still inside.
This story has been updated.
At LAist, we believe in journalism without censorship and the right of a free press to speak truth to those in power. Our hard-hitting watchdog reporting on local government, climate, and the ongoing housing and homelessness crisis is trustworthy, independent and freely accessible to everyone thanks to the support of readers like you.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
The study found recipients spent nearly all the money on basic needs like food and transportation, not drugs or alcohol. -
Kevin Lee's Tokyo Noir has become one of the top spots for craft-inspired cocktails. -
A tort claim obtained by LAist via a public records request alleges the Anaheim procurement department lacks basic contracting procedures and oversight. -
Flauta, taquito, tacos dorados? Whatever they’re called, they’re golden, crispy and delicious. -
If California redistricts, the conservative beach town that banned LGBTQ Pride flags on city property would get a gay, progressive Democrat in Congress. -
Most survivors of January's fires face a massive gap in the money they need to rebuild, and funding to help is moving too slowly or nonexistent.
Best of LAist